Cambridge take Varsity honours

Cambridge 286 for 8 (Ansari 73, Timms 53) beat Oxford 239 (Kruger 81, Baker 4-66) by 47 runs
Scorecard

Cambridge took the honours in the annual Varsity match at Lord's, completing a comprehensive 47-run victory against Oxford. They were given a flying start by their opening pair of Akbar Ansari and Richard Timms, who added 138, and a target of 287 proved too much for Oxford after a sluggish start to the chase.

While Ansari and Timms scored at a brisk rate after Cambridge had been put into bat, they were also gifted the advantage by some wayward bowling. Oxford sent down a total of 42 wides, 30 of them coming in the first 20 overs.

At 224 for 2, Cambridge were set for an even more daunting target but the middle order fell away as they tried to accelerate with six wickets falling for 50.

Oxford made a solid start to the chase, but struggled to keep up with the required rate. The pressure told as wickets fell steadily and at 107 for 4, Cambridge had a grip on the match. N Kruger did his best to keep Oxford in the contest, with 81 off 71 balls, while R Haslam hit six boundaries in his 38-ball 43, however it proved too much of an ask. Fergus Baker, although being a touch expensive, claimed four important wickets to help Cambridge seal the victory.